Respected Prime Minister,
Bharat today stands at a decisive crossroads, and it will require your resolve. The recent threat of tariffs as high as 50% by the United States is not just about trade. These are extraordinary acts of intimidation and coercion, designed to slow Bharat’s economic rise at a moment when Bharat’s democracy, diversity, and global influence are stronger than ever.
It is a sad irony that the largest and the oldest democracies are drifting apart—not because of values or ideals, but because of short-sighted American policy. Instead of embracing Bharat as a natural and strategic partner in 2025 and beyond, which took decades to cultivate, Washington under President Trump is choosing tariffs, threats, and rhetoric.
These actions are part of a Troika of pressure tactics:
- Energy: Demanding that Bharat cut Russian crude imports, even as the US itself quietly increases trade with Moscow.
- Agriculture: Pressuring Bharat to accept American agro and dairy imports, a direct assault on millions of farmers.
- Narrative war: Dismissing Bharat’s growth story as negligible and even recklessly branding the Ukraine conflict as “Modi’s war,” as Navarro has suggested.
And yet, while Bharat is singled out with the steepest tariff threats, China—the largest importer of Russian oil—faces no such penalties. Beijing is spared while Bharat is targeted as the “easier” rival. This hypocrisy exposes the weakness of America’s strategy.
What American policymakers fail to see is that these tactics are pushing Bharat, China, and Russia closer together. The Troika is no longer hypothetical—it is becoming a geopolitical reality. Within BRICS, where these nations wield immense influence, a new multilateral order is consolidating. Even the European Union may hesitate to endorse such American tariffs, knowing its own industries rely heavily on access to Bharat’s and BRICS markets.
Mr. Prime Minister, you are the fearless leader of 1.4 billion citizens and a trusted voice within BRICS, which now represents nearly 4.4 billion people—almost half of humanity. You need not fear America’s bullying tactics, for Washington cannot exert its dominance over a bloc of this scale.
The US has a history of choosing the wrong partners. It poured billions into Pakistan, which harbored the masterminds of 9/11 and continues to sponsor cross-border terrorism. America is now repeating its mistakes—courting Pakistan’s military regime while antagonizing Bharat, a democracy that has stood consistently for pluralism, digital innovation, and stability.
Bharat’s strengths are rooted in Dharma. We were never fragile, and we are not fragile today. Our democracy, our digitization, our vast and skilled workforce, our influential diaspora across America and the world, our expanding defense capabilities, and our civilizational confidence cannot be shaken by tariffs, trade wars, or Trump’s undiplomatic statements.
At this moment, Bharat must remain patient, yet unyielding. Hold diplomatic ground. Reject coercion. Show confidence. Protect farmers and secure our energy needs. Celebrate democracy, demographic dividend, and digitization while pursuing partnerships on Bharat’s own terms. Tariffs must not and cannot derail the national trajectory.
As a proud Hindu calling Bharat my motherland and America my adopted land, I fear that the current tariff war is a display of American insecurity in the face of Bharat’s growing digital economy, scientific and technological advances, space achievements, defense modernization, and manufacturing capacity. These are strengths no tariff can diminish.
The world is shifting toward multipolarity. The Troika is growing firmer. BRICS is expanding. A new order is emerging with no single nation dictating terms anymore. The question is not whether Bharat can withstand America’s tariffs—it can, and it will. No doubt, there will be short-term pains, but as an optimist, I believe the long-term benefits will outweigh the losses. The real question is whether the United States, already strained by conflicts and contradictions, can afford to alienate Bharat—the partner it needs most. MAGA (Make America Great Again) cannot be achieved without MIGA (Make India Great Again). Their destinies are bound by the promise of partnership, not conflict.
Mr. Prime Minister, this is a test of resolve. By standing firm and tall, Bharat under your leadership will not only defend its sovereignty but also affirm its destiny as a pillar of the new multipolar world.
With conviction and confidence,
A concerned Overseas Citizen of India, the motherland, and a Citizen of America, the adopted land, committed to both democracies.
Note:
1. Text in Blue points to additional data on the topic.
2. The views expressed here are those of the author and do not necessarily represent or reflect the views of PGurus.
3. The author acknowledges the use of ChatGPT in researching topics and the meaningful improvement of content.
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Formerly, a researcher in Italy, Japan, and France, he has widely travelled and came to the US in 1978. He was a faculty and academic administrator in several different universities in PA, TX, NJ, MN, WI, and NY, and an Executive Fellow in the White House S&T Policy during the Clinton administration.
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